Ah. "Facebook." I've heard rumors of it, but I thought it was a myth, like a curse or a demon.
_________________"You can't eat real Polynesian food. It's the most horrible junk I've ever tasted." —Trader Vic Bergeron

Hi guys, Sven in Paris here. I have to apologize for staying mum for so long on good ole Tiki Central, but I was just too overworked. It is one thing to write and lay out the biggest book of my Tiki career yet, but to do that in conjunction with assembling the biggest Tiki exhibition at the same time, it became downright stressful to fulfill all the demands put on me.

At times it seemed I had bit off more than I could chew. I underestimated the work load of both jobs together, and for a while it looked like the book would not make it in time for opening of the show - and Tiki was not fun anymore for me, but stressful work. Now who wants that to happen to them!

Well, I still have a week of intense setting-up of the show in the museum gallery space. The container arrived late (NOT my fault), and we have less time than planned to see how the close to 500 items fit into the showcases. But at least we are finally "making nails with heads" as they say in Germany, i.e. creating hands-on facts, instead of talking about it.

About the book: I was elated to see that it arrived a week early, and that it looks really good. It is a real humdinger!

I usually deem oversized books as impractical, but that fact that one can see all the images big, with their detail, and that it "tops" my previous works in volume makes its size appropriate.

Some folks will be annoyed by the parallel French text taking half of the text space, but this IS also the catalog for the show, and without the exhibit, this book would not exist.

I still don't know when it will be in stock at Amazon, but I am sure the discount and free shipping is not dependent on the pre-ordering or if you wait. There will be several book signings in LA at the end of July, and at Tiki Oasis, to be announced in time.

WOW...it looks amazing. I know my old eyes will be glad to have bigger pictures to gawk at. Nice to see Wendy's mug in the display mix, I am sure she will be thrilled with that. We all appreciate you taking the time for this wonderful preview. Best wishes for a great show.

This book, on the heels of the amazing Retro Renovation symposium at Hukilau 2014, will be awe-inspiring and fire many of our imaginations.

Sven, we missed you in Fort Lauderdale this week. Hope to see you there again in 2015. You'll undoubtedly be asked to sign a number of books, so get that hand in shape while in Paris. Best wishes for a wonderful and successful exhibition.
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